Letters to the editor for Dec. 12

Jolene was the best it can get

My heart was truly broken today when I received notification from The Olympian about Jolene’s death. This was a soul who gave her all for us, and was completely sincere, kind and strong in doing so. If Congress had half its members with half the integrity Jolene Unsoeld possessed, the world would be at peace, and prosperity would reign.

I’m sure Ms. Unsoeld wouldn’t have known me by name or face, but we interacted over the years politically. The first was when she was in the state Legislature and I approached her about Capitol Lake. I was taken aback at how thoughtful and concerned she was to my queries. The second was when I offered up my Capitol Theater office as a safe place to rest while she was running for Congress with an election night event across the street. Her campaign manager liked the fact I was an ardent supporter with a napping futon behind two locked doors.

But, like I said in the beginning, the thing about Jolene that has always stuck with me the most is how she was a disciple for compromise and fair-minded debate in the political arena. I have driven around for years with a campaign bumper sticker of hers from back in the day on my truck as a sort of protest against the divisive, toxic political climate we now live in. Jolene was a person that everyone aspired to be in their dreams, and she was the one who made it there.

Steve Shanewise, Olympia

Options for those evicted from Deschutes Parkway

To Kim Kondrat:

As the city’s homeless response coordinator, I urge you to establish suitable alternative housing for the people the city kicked out of the Deschutes Parkway camp on Dec. 8.

I have two suggestions I urge the city to incorporate to this end.

The first is to happen immediately: Open up the currently very unused gym and and showers at The Olympia Center as emergency humane alternative accommodations. Especially in light of the fact said eviction is happening right at the start of the harshest time of year to be living without warm secure respite from the weather. The city can hire people to provide 24-hour management of the center and the police department can make regular unscheduled patrols at the center and as a place for them to take their work or bathroom breaks as a way to keep ne’er-do-wells from coming around.

The second suggestion is for the city to lease or buy a couple of the many empty strip mall stores in commercial neighborhoods and not prone to NIMBY backlash, served by public transit. Build inside them individual micro apartments with common kitchen and social spaces. This is quicker to deploy (by just internal remodeling verse building entirely from ground up) and a longer-term solution or step back to living in a regular stable housing situation.

Mike Pelly, Olympia

Support our vulnerable neighbors

With all the issues that contribute to homelessness, I’m often perplexed about what to do to address the suffering around me and wonder whether the dollar or five I hand the homeless man outside the post office helps or contributes to underlying causes.

This holiday season, each of us can do something concrete to help celebrate the opening of Unity Commons at 2828 Martin Way in Olympia. We can make donations of money and goods to create comfortable living spaces in this new five-story, affordable rental building that includes 65 permanent supportive housing units for people leaving homelessness above a 60-bed enhanced shelter on the ground floor.

Unity Commons demonstrates what can be done with vision and partnership. This project was the dream of Interfaith Works and involves partnership among Interfaith Works, the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) and the city of Olympia. State agencies, local governments and private donors helped fund construction and Interfaith Works will provide ongoing supportive services and case management for residents.

Many items are needed to make Unity Commons home to some of our most vulnerable neighbors and you can help. Interfaith Works is working with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and other local organizations to collect the items for Unity Commons. Check out www.DreamList.com/of/unitycommonsdropoff to learn what’s needed and how you can donate.

To learn more about Unity Commons, please visit www.2828martinway.org.

Karen Tvedt, Olympia

This story was originally published December 13, 2021 at 1:02 PM.